Psychology in Sports Coaching is a practice-oriented textbook that provides insight into sports psychology for coaches. It addresses athletes' psychological needs and how to effectively recognize and use them within the coaching process. The book is written to help coaches create an optimal mental environment and apply mental imagery to improve performance.
This third, fully revised edition introduces the latest insights and techniques from sports psychology. New chapters cover topics such as the constraints approach for assessing psychological needs, mental imagery, dealing with perfectionism, and leadership mentoring. The content is practical and applicable for coaches who want to deepen their knowledge and expand their skills.
Key themes include:
- Assessing athletes’ psychological needs
- Promoting awareness through objectives and performance profiling
- Effectively coaching diverse groups, including youth and athletes with learning difficulties
- Promoting fraud-free sporting behavior
- Developing strong coach–athlete relationships
- Addressing performance anxiety and choking
- Mindfulness and mental imagery techniques
The book includes case studies, critical questions, and exam questions to support the learning process. Psychology in Sports Coaching is an indispensable reference work for coaches and students in sports psychology.